Kent State baseball teamranked in preseason polls

Published: January 30, 2013 4:00 AM

The national recognition that last season's Kent State baseball team garnered certainly has carried over to the 2013 diamond edition of the Golden Flashes.

Showing the level of respect for the program and the level of talent they have returning, KSU has been ranked in a variety of preseason polls conducted by a group of media outlets.

The Flashes are ranked No. 19 by College Sports Madness, No. 31 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and No. 34 by the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

Additionally, the Flashes also earned votes in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Preseason Poll and were named one of the 10 teams in the nation to watch by Perfect Game.

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Kent State finished last season ranked No. 6 in the nation by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, after the program's first College World Series appearance and a school-record 47 wins against only 20 losses.

Leading this year's roster are Preseason All-Americans Tyler Skulina and George Roberts.

In preseason releases, Skulina was named All-Conference Pitcher of the Year by College Sports Madness, the No. 78 player in the country by College Baseball Daily and made the preseason Second Team for both NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

Meanwhile, Roberts was named preseason Position Player of the Year by College Sports Madness and made the preseason First Team for Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

Kent State will open its season on Feb. 15 in a road doubleheader matchup at UNC Wilmington, then another doubleheader against Virginia Tech. Like the Flashes, both of the opponents received votes in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Preseason Poll.

Other 2013 Flashes opponents that are ranked nationally heading into the season include Louisville (No. 4) and San Diego (No. 12).